Blade structure for ceiling fan

ABSTRACT

An improved blade structure for ceiling fan includes a plurality of brackets and a blade element. The brackets are made of wood, bamboo, metal, plastic or the like. The blade element is made of paper, cloth, plastics, thin metal sheet, rubber, synthetic paper or the like. The blade element is bonded to the brackets by adhering, clamping, nailing, snapping, threading, screwing, meshing, stitching, gluing, laminating, riveting or the like to form a foldable blade structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an improved blade structure for ceiling fan and particularly a blade structure for ceiling fan that is foldable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventional blades for ceiling fan are usually made by integral forming. The blade has a relatively great thickness. It consumes more materials and is heavier. When in use, it also adds more workload for the motor and consumes more electricity power, and tends to lower the rotation speed and reduces air ventilation volume. There are still rooms for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In view of the foregoing disadvantages, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved blade structure for ceiling fan that comprises a plurality of brackets and at least one blade element bonded to the brackets to form a foldable structure. The blade structure may be fastened to a blade frame or an impeller. The blade structure thus formed can greatly reduce costs, size and weight, and may be folded to a smaller size to facilitate transportation. When in use, it also can reduce workload to the motor and increase motor rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The invention, as well as its many advantages, may be further understood by the following detailed description and drawings. The drawings are only to serve for reference and illustrative purpose, and do not intend to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this invention

[0006]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of this invention.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a top view of this invention assembled to a ceiling fan.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a top view of this invention at an extended state.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a top view of this invention at a folded state.

[0010]FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are schematic views of other embodiments of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the blade structure according to this invention includes a plurality of brackets 10 and at least one blade element 11. The brackets 10 are made of wood, bamboo, metal (such as aluminum, zinc, steel or the like), plastics, or the like. The blade element 11 is made of paper, cloth, plastics, thin metal sheet, rubber, synthetic paper, or the like. Each of the brackets 10 has a selected length and may be formed in a shape desired (such as the ones shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B). The blade element 11 is extended and bonded to the brackets 10. The outer edge of the blade element 11 may be bent to form a covering section 14 to shroud the outer end of the brackets 10. The brackets 10 and blade element 11 may be bonded together by adhering, clamping, nailing, snapping, threading, screwing, meshing, stitching, gluing, laminating, riveting, or any other fastening means known in the art to form a foldable structure (shown in FIG. 5). The brackets 10 support the blade element 10 like a sail or kite, and may be formed in a polygon, or in a solid or hollow structure.

[0012]FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate detailed structure of this invention. The brackets 10 have respectively one end fastened to a blade frame 12 (or impeller) by means of a fastener 13. The outmost bracket 10 (according to rotational direction) is fixed to blade frame 12 by the fastener 13 at one end thereof. The remaining brackets 10 are pivotally engaged with the blade frame 12 at one end thereof by means of the fasteners 13. Hence when the fan rotates, the pivotal brackets 10 will swing about the fasteners 13 and be folded or extended selectively. Referring to FIG. 5, when the blade structure rotates counterclockwise (or clockwise), the leftmost (or rightmost) bracket 10 will remain fixedly mounted on the blade frame 12 without moving, but other brackets 10 pivotally engaged with the blade frame 12 will swing to the right (or left) side for controlling the extension of the blade element 11 (as shown in FIG. 4) to form a larger area whereby to achieve air ventilation purpose through the driving of the motor. FIG. 6C shows that the brackets 10 may also be stacked at one end to engage with the blade frame 12 by means of one fastener 13.

[0013] Through this invention, the brackets and blade element may be organized and assembled to a wide variety of forms. It is easy to assemble and install by users in a DIY fashion. It can greatly reduce cost, shrink size, reduce weight, and be folded to a smaller size for package (as shown in FIG. 5) to lower transportation cost. When in use, it can reduce motor workload and consequently reduce consumption of silicon steel and coils used in the motor. Because of its lighter weight, motor rotation efficiency will also be improved.

[0014] In summary, this invention provides an improved blade structure which effectively resolves the problems and disadvantages happened to conventional ceiling fans such as integrally formed blades, thicker blade element, consuming more materials, weight heavier, and added motor workload.

[0015] It may thus be seen that the objects of the present invention set forth herein, as well as those made apparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for purpose of disclosure, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made according to the embodiments. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An improved blade structure for ceiling fan comprising a plurality of brackets and a blade element bonded to the brackets for forming a foldable blade structure.
 2. The improved blade structure for ceiling fan according to claim 1, wherein brackets are fastened to a blade frame through fasteners.
 3. The improved blade structure for ceiling fan according to claim 2, where the brackets have an outmost bracket fixedly fastened to the blade frame through the fastener, and the remaining brackets are pivotally fastened to the blade frame through fasteners such that the pivotal brackets are capable of swinging about the fasteners to selectively fold or extend.
 4. The improved blade structure for ceiling fan according to claim 1, wherein the brackets are made of material selected from the group consisting of wood, bamboo, metal or plastic.
 5. The improved blade structure for ceiling fan according to claim 1, wherein the blade element is made of material selected from the group consisting of paper, cloth, plastics, thin metal sheet, rubber or synthetic paper.
 6. The improved blade structure for ceiling fan according to claim 1, wherein the blade element is bonded to the brackets by means of adhering, clamping, nailing, snapping, threading, screwing, meshing, stitching, gluing, laminating or riveting.
 7. The improved blade structure for ceiling fan according to claim 1, wherein the blade element has an outer edge bent to form a covering section to shroud the outer end of the brackets. 